This simple, to-the-point assessment is sad but true.  What’s interesting, though, is that the other so-called transformations in modern history have paid dividends to future generations that far outweighed current benefits.  Improvements in voting and civil rights and radical discoveries in medicine were truly “transforming” only for successive generations; those that lead the change never had the opportunity to grow up in a world without debilitating diseases or intransigent obstacles to personal freedom.  Our country is entirely capable of not only radical change, but fundamental, permanent change designed to stand the test of time.  The reason we’re not further along in addressing global warming is because most people have decided that they’re not ready for change.

Not surprisingly, Friedman’s article is some of the best writing I have ever read on the climate change debate.  To my knowledge, Friedman only began to focus his attention on “green” issues in his most recent book, The World Is Flat.  The impending scarcity of natural resources, including oil, was obvious to Friedman as he studied the implications of the rise of China and India on the worldwide economic scene.  While some in the environmental movement may resent his late arrival on the scene, every movement needs a scribe, and Friedman may just be that person.  His article should be required reading for anyone trying to understand the enormity of the task at hand. 

His article is essentially a call to arms for the U.S. to lead the way in innovation both on policy and technology to reduce worldwide carbon emissions.   He coins the phrase “China price” to describe the hurdle that we must cross to reverse the trend in global carbon emissions.  The China price is the price at which the Chinese would choose renewable energy over traditional sources, like coal and gas.  Friedman believes that the Chinese will never sacrifice growth or potential improvements to standards of living to better the environment.  Only when the cost of renewable energy alternatives is comparable to less clean sources will the Chinese forgo dirtier energy.  To reach this price, alternative energy technologies must transition from being an experimental sideshow to achieve the reliability and presence of coal and natural gas in the developed world.  The responsibility for leading the way, Friedman believes, falls to the U.S.  He writes:

I don’t believe the world will effectively address the climate-energy challenge without America, its president, its government, its industry, its markets and its people all leading the parade. Green has to become part of America’s DNA. We’re getting there. Green has hit Main Street — it’s now more than a hobby — but it’s still less than a new way of life.

So if you happen to be an innovator, this is your time to make a difference. If you’re like the rest of us, support innovation in the most powerful form possible – as a consumer.  Send a message to GE by buying the most energy efficient washer and dryer.  Buy the renewable power from your utility, even if it costs a few more dollars each month.  And by all means, stop rewarding the automakers for continuing to churn out hulking SUVs.  The cost of new products will be driven down as they succeed in the market place (think about the falling prices of flat screen TVs).  More importantly, the technologies that win in the marketplace are the ones that will proliferate around the world, and become the standard for hundreds of millions of Chinese who plug in a TV or microwave for the first time.